Don't Miss Your Flight Act
The Don't Miss Your Flight Act would create a new grant program run by the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund surface transportation projects that connect to public airports. Eligible recipients include states, Indian Tribes, and local governments with control over a public airport. Eligible projects must connect to an airport, occur on land within five miles of the airport, and aim to reduce congestion, increase capacity, improve access to under-connected areas, or rehabilitate road, rail, or transit infrastructure (including bridges, tunnels, and rolling stock). Projects may be highways/bridges, public transportation, or passenger rail that are eligible for existing federal program funding. The bill would authorize a substantial, five-year funding stream ($1 billion per year) from the Highway Trust Fund (for fiscal years 2027-2031) and would require minimum funding shares for projects serving large and medium hub airports. The non-federal share could be met with TIFIA credit assistance or passenger facility charges. Administration would be through the Secretary of Transportation. The act is sponsored by Senators Duckworth and Blackburn and is named the “Don’t Miss Your Flight Act.”
Key Points
- 1Establishes a Grants for Airport Connection Infrastructure program to fund surface transportation projects that connect to public airports and lie within five miles of them.
- 2Eligible entities: states, Indian Tribes, and units of local government (including public agencies) that control a public airport.
- 3Eligible projects: highway/bridge projects (Title 23), public transportation projects (Title 49, Chapter 53), or passenger rail projects that connect to an airport and improve access or reduce congestion near the airport.
- 4Funding allocation: not less than 50% of annual funds for projects connecting to large hub airports and not less than 30% for projects connecting to medium hub airports, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102, as of enactment.
- 5Cost-sharing: Federal share determined under existing law (23 U.S.C. 120). Eligible non-federal contributions may include TIFIA credit assistance (a federal credit program) and passenger facility charges (PFCs) collected by the eligible entity.
- 6Administration and oversight: The Secretary of Transportation must establish and administer the program.
- 7Authorization of appropriations: $1 billion per fiscal year for 2027 through 2031 from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account).